Sunday, October 05, 2008
Thanks for your e-mail.
Attn: Moms, UNEEFISIO, British People, Grace James, Study Partners, Etc. ...
Hey, thanks for your e-mail. I really enjoyed reading a partial list of Michael's high school graduation gifts (that kid totally scored). Yes, the BBQ sounds great, wish I could have been there. Yes, I am keeping up with my grades.
And you, other person, I wish you all the best with your new organization and I hope you find someone to meet your web design needs. Thanks for thinking of me.
All you Spanish-speaking people, I don't know what you are saying, and I am sorry.
However, I am not the person you are trying to find! Try somewhere else, please!
Thanks. Sorry.
My next email address is going to be sorrywrongnumber@gmail.com
Hey, thanks for your e-mail. I really enjoyed reading a partial list of Michael's high school graduation gifts (that kid totally scored). Yes, the BBQ sounds great, wish I could have been there. Yes, I am keeping up with my grades.
And you, other person, I wish you all the best with your new organization and I hope you find someone to meet your web design needs. Thanks for thinking of me.
All you Spanish-speaking people, I don't know what you are saying, and I am sorry.
However, I am not the person you are trying to find! Try somewhere else, please!
Thanks. Sorry.
My next email address is going to be sorrywrongnumber@gmail.com
Friday, September 26, 2008
Vomit Bags, Bluetooth, La Quinta
On travel:
1. The fastest way to freak out a flight attendent is to hand him or her the bag located conveniently in your seat pocket. Nevermind that it may contain innocent trash for collecting, or a dozen used tissues. Your flight attendent will inevitably assume it contains DRIPPY BODILY FLUIDS and immediately recoil and then ask you if you are ok. You are fine. You just have a head cold. (This has now happened to me twice.)
2. This makes me want to ask flight attendent neighbor how many people actually vomit on planes. I have never witnessed this; but I am sure it happens. Ewww.
3. People who sit in public spaces talking on their bluetooth headsets look ridiculous. Seriously. WHO are you talking to?
4. There are at least four La Quintas in Austin, TX, and I have been to all of them this week, and one is only a mile away from another one. I do not understand how this is a sustainable business, especially when 1) the address does not appear correctly on google maps; and 2) people can never find their way back to their luggage.
1. The fastest way to freak out a flight attendent is to hand him or her the bag located conveniently in your seat pocket. Nevermind that it may contain innocent trash for collecting, or a dozen used tissues. Your flight attendent will inevitably assume it contains DRIPPY BODILY FLUIDS and immediately recoil and then ask you if you are ok. You are fine. You just have a head cold. (This has now happened to me twice.)
2. This makes me want to ask flight attendent neighbor how many people actually vomit on planes. I have never witnessed this; but I am sure it happens. Ewww.
3. People who sit in public spaces talking on their bluetooth headsets look ridiculous. Seriously. WHO are you talking to?
4. There are at least four La Quintas in Austin, TX, and I have been to all of them this week, and one is only a mile away from another one. I do not understand how this is a sustainable business, especially when 1) the address does not appear correctly on google maps; and 2) people can never find their way back to their luggage.
Labels: travel
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Not Making This Up
On the FEMA "POD" hiccups:
While they declined to say what caused the problem, Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said they had to take control today of how the Federal Emergency Management Agency was delivering supplies to sites all over Houston for them to be distributed to those in need.
Thousands were turned away empty-handed from several locations after waiting all day to receive food, water, ice and tarps to cover damaged rooftops and both elected officials vowed that would not be repeated.
They established 26 distribution sites, eliminating and consolidating others to ensure that supplies would make it well before they are open to waiting people.
"One job we have is to fight for the people we work for and we never forget that," White said. "There's a bunch of ice in the parking lot over in Reliant, and there's places to distribute it, and there's people in lines, then somebody screwed up. And we sorted it out."
White said he knew there was a problem when he passed a site and saw people waiting with no supplies at 10:30 a.m. He then asked Emmett, who has experience in logisitics and moving supplies, to see what was wrong. Emmett went to Reliant Stadium, where the trucks were being staged, and saw 200 trucks full of supplies in the parking lot.
Some did not arrive until about 1 p.m., meaning thousands waited for at least three hours before anything arrived.
"The effort to get emergency supplies out to the community has been streamlined," he said, pledging to work through the night to make sure the supplies make it on time. "We're going to continue that tonight."
It sounds to me like, and stop me if I am hearing this wrong, but... but... did a COMMUNITY ORGANIZER just swoop in and save the day? In a RED STATE?
...
I'm just sayin'.
While they declined to say what caused the problem, Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said they had to take control today of how the Federal Emergency Management Agency was delivering supplies to sites all over Houston for them to be distributed to those in need.
Thousands were turned away empty-handed from several locations after waiting all day to receive food, water, ice and tarps to cover damaged rooftops and both elected officials vowed that would not be repeated.
They established 26 distribution sites, eliminating and consolidating others to ensure that supplies would make it well before they are open to waiting people.
"One job we have is to fight for the people we work for and we never forget that," White said. "There's a bunch of ice in the parking lot over in Reliant, and there's places to distribute it, and there's people in lines, then somebody screwed up. And we sorted it out."
White said he knew there was a problem when he passed a site and saw people waiting with no supplies at 10:30 a.m. He then asked Emmett, who has experience in logisitics and moving supplies, to see what was wrong. Emmett went to Reliant Stadium, where the trucks were being staged, and saw 200 trucks full of supplies in the parking lot.
Some did not arrive until about 1 p.m., meaning thousands waited for at least three hours before anything arrived.
"The effort to get emergency supplies out to the community has been streamlined," he said, pledging to work through the night to make sure the supplies make it on time. "We're going to continue that tonight."
It sounds to me like, and stop me if I am hearing this wrong, but... but... did a COMMUNITY ORGANIZER just swoop in and save the day? In a RED STATE?
...
I'm just sayin'.
Labels: Ike
Look and Leave
Thanks to the Mayor of Galveston, "look and leave" is my new favorite phrase.
As in:
"Are you going to the high school reunion?"
"I'll probably do a look and leave."
Maybe because it reminds me of the "kiss and ride" area at the DC Metro -- an oddly named lane for passenger drop-off.
In exchange for this new addition to my lexicon, I am giving up "hunker down" and I never want to hear it again. Maybe next time we all do a "sit and stay."
As in:
"Are you going to the high school reunion?"
"I'll probably do a look and leave."
Maybe because it reminds me of the "kiss and ride" area at the DC Metro -- an oddly named lane for passenger drop-off.
In exchange for this new addition to my lexicon, I am giving up "hunker down" and I never want to hear it again. Maybe next time we all do a "sit and stay."
Labels: Ike
Monday, September 15, 2008
Getting to Know You, Neighbors
Because 75 percent of Houston is still without power there is a city-wide curfew, which is fitting as my high school reunion is this weekend and I just dyed my hair Angela Chase red and Jason is inexplicably jamming out to music from the mid-90s -- music that I might have listened too had I been a cooler kid, but instead I was listening to Enya. Mayor White says we should all stay home and talk amongst ourselves.
Earlier today, someone behind me in line at the convenience store asked the cashier, "Can you all cash lottery tickets? Yes? Sweet."
I turned around, incredulous, and asked: "You won the lottery this weekend?"
He won $50 from a scratch-off ticket. And was buying more scratch-off tickets. To scratch. In the dark. Because what else are you going to do?
Astounding.
Earlier today, someone behind me in line at the convenience store asked the cashier, "Can you all cash lottery tickets? Yes? Sweet."
I turned around, incredulous, and asked: "You won the lottery this weekend?"
He won $50 from a scratch-off ticket. And was buying more scratch-off tickets. To scratch. In the dark. Because what else are you going to do?
Astounding.
Labels: Ike
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Before and After
I made a small attempt at documentation...
Before:
After:
Where Did That Branch Go?
Oh, there it is.
Before:
After:
Where Did That Branch Go?
Oh, there it is.
Labels: Ike
Electricity is a beautiful thing
Since the power came back on I have been turning on every light in the house and then turning them all off, and then turning them back on again. When I am not basking in the glorious, incandescent glow, I am kissing the air conditioner on the mouth.
Running water is pretty great, too.
I did not get out today to take pictures because I have been too busy with my head in the freezer but these other people did.
Take a look.
In comparison, we were remarkably lucky.
So was this frog!
(via Vetteman98)
Looks like he found shelter under a cracked sunroof.
Thanks for all of your well-wishes. It is going to be a long time before things return to "normal" around here -- and even then, it will be a different breed of normal.
Running water is pretty great, too.
I did not get out today to take pictures because I have been too busy with my head in the freezer but these other people did.
Take a look.
In comparison, we were remarkably lucky.
So was this frog!
(via Vetteman98)
Looks like he found shelter under a cracked sunroof.
Thanks for all of your well-wishes. It is going to be a long time before things return to "normal" around here -- and even then, it will be a different breed of normal.
Labels: Ike
Friday, September 12, 2008
I Am Fine
No rain yet.
Here are some fun pictures (not mine) from my hood.
I am expecting scary winds and power outages. Will update soon.
Here are some fun pictures (not mine) from my hood.
I am expecting scary winds and power outages. Will update soon.
Labels: Ike
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hurricane Ike Q&A
2:37 [Comment From cww]
Do you have any recommendations for pets? Our dog is an outside dog, and I don't want him to leave a brownie on my carpet. Can I tie him to a tree? We are in the Woodlands if this helps...
2:37 Eric Berger: I'd try to at least bring him in the garage if you can. Would you want to be tied to a tree during a hurricane?
Do you have any recommendations for pets? Our dog is an outside dog, and I don't want him to leave a brownie on my carpet. Can I tie him to a tree? We are in the Woodlands if this helps...
2:37 Eric Berger: I'd try to at least bring him in the garage if you can. Would you want to be tied to a tree during a hurricane?
Labels: Ike
Monday, September 08, 2008
Networking
E: "So, basically, you're that person that nobody likes to talk to?"
M: "What are you talking about. People love to talk to me. I am delightful. I remember everything about their alma mater and occupation and children and then I hit them up for money."
M: "What are you talking about. People love to talk to me. I am delightful. I remember everything about their alma mater and occupation and children and then I hit them up for money."
